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Ranger taken by crocodile in remote Arnhem land

A female ranger has been taken by a saltwater crocodile in front of horrified onlookers in remote Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

The Aboriginal woman was attacked this morning near the community of Gan Gan, about 206km south west of Yirrkala. She has not been seen since.

NT WorkSafe says police are on their way to the scene by boat and by road.

“NT WorkSafe has been notified that a female Aboriginal Ranger has been taken by a crocodile,” a statement from the government organisation read.

NT WorkSafe has commenced an investigation into the incident after receiving reports of the attack from multiple witnesses.

“We’re hoping this all ends well… (there’s) no body… it hasn’t been confirmed as a fatality,” NT WorkSafe spokesman Peter Chan told news.com.au.

An NT police spokeswoman told news.com.au no further information was yet available.

The circumstances surrounding the incident have not been confirmed due to the remoteness of the location and difficulty relaying information.

Deaths from crocodile attacks have increased dramatically since culling ended in 1971. A recent study by researchers at the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, Royal Darwin Hospital and Menzies School of Health found 14 people were killed by crocs from 2005 to 2014, compared to 10 deaths in the 33 years to 2004.

Today’s incident occurred on the Gan Gan outstation where Yirralka Rangers work in the Laynhapuy Indigenous Protected Area.